Author: John Smith

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino has challenged the Bank for International Settlements’ preference for tokenized bank deposits, arguing that fully reserved stablecoins give users a stronger alternative to money held under fractional reserve banking. Summary Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino challenged the BIS preference for tokenized bank deposits, arguing that fully reserved stablecoins offer users a safer alternative. BIS chief Pablo Hernández de Cos said stablecoins face problems with redeemability, interoperability, financial integrity and monetary sovereignty. Ardoino questioned why savers would keep money in fractional reserve products when stablecoins can hold reserves in liquid assets such as U.S. Treasuries. The debate has…

A Solana wallet labeled as Fireblocks Custody transferred another 30 million USD1 to Binance during a 15-hour period, according to an Aug. 31 report from blockchain tracker Onchain Lens. Summary Fireblocks-labeled custody wallet sent 30 million Solana-based USD1 tokens to Binance across fifteen reported hours. Onchain records confirm transfers, but they do not identify the beneficial owner or transaction purpose. The same wallet previously transferred 66 million USD1 to Binance during the preceding reported week. USD1 is issued by World Liberty Financial and operates across multiple networks, including Solana today. Neither Fireblocks, Binance nor World Liberty publicly explained whether the…

Coinbase will suspend trading for Badger DAO and Storj on Sept. 28, 2026, following its latest review of assets listed on the U.S. cryptocurrency exchange. Summary Coinbase will suspend BADGER and STORJ trading on September 28, 2026, around 2:00 p.m. ET. Suspension covers Coinbase.com Simple and Advanced Trade, Coinbase Exchange, and Coinbase Prime services for customers. Both order books now operate in limit-only mode, allowing orders and possible trade matches temporarily. Customers will retain access to BADGER and STORJ balances and withdrawals after trading ends completely. Coinbase cited routine listing reviews but did not identify specific deficiencies involving either token…

Ripple has named Academy Award winner and Water.org co-founder Matt Damon as a keynote speaker for Swell 2026, scheduled for Oct. 27–29 at The Shed in New York City. Summary Matt Damon will deliver a keynote at Ripple Swell 2026, scheduled October 27–29 in Manhattan. Ripple will combine Swell and XRPL Apex for the first time across three stages together. Organizers expect more than 1,500 attendees, 75-plus speakers and over 50 sessions in total overall. New speakers include executives from Aviva, Susquehanna Crypto, Water.org and PEAK6 across finance sectors globally. Ripple supports Water.org’s Get Blue campaign, using RLUSD to transfer…

Vietnam has not issued its first crypto exchange license, but five companies have passed an initial assessment under the country’s five-year digital asset market pilot. Summary Vietnam has not licensed any crypto exchange, although five applicants passed an initial assessment stage. Applicants need 10 trillion dong in charter capital and Level 4 information-system security certification before licensing. Decree 284 takes effect September 1, establishing penalties for crypto-market violations during Vietnam’s pilot program. Domestic traders face no immediate offshore-platform fines because a separate six-month transition period applies first. Vietnam’s six-month transition starts only when the Ministry of Finance licenses its first…

OCEAN co-founder Luke Dashjr left the Bitcoin mining pool on Aug. 29 after reaching a mutual separation agreement with its parent company, Mummolin Inc. He resigned as chairman, chief technology officer and director. Summary OCEAN co-founder Luke Dashjr resigned as chairman, chief technology officer and director by mutual agreement. Mummolin repurchased all Dashjr’s equity, ending his ownership interest in the Bitcoin mining pool entirely. Dashjr will establish CONVOY to continue promoting decentralized Bitcoin mining; launch details remain undisclosed today. OCEAN said it will continue operating its transparent, non-custodial pool for Bitcoin miners without Dashjr. The parties cited differing visions after…

Bitcoin’s realized capitalization increased by more than $4.6 billion during the week ending Aug. 30, according to CryptoQuant contributor Darkfost. The increase accompanied BTC’s sharp recovery from around $63,000 earlier in August to above $80,000. Summary Bitcoin’s realized capitalization increased by more than $4.6 billion during the latest seven-day measurement period. The 30-day average growth rate remained only 0.4%, leaving the developing liquidity shift unconfirmed overall. Bitcoin traded near $78,024 after retreating from its three-month high above $81,200 earlier this week. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted $2.57 billion across seven consecutive positive sessions through August 25. Realized capitalization can also…

Ripple has hired London Metal Exchange treasury executive Joseph Thompson for its trading and markets team, according to an Aug. 28 report. Summary Ripple appointed Joseph Thompson to the trading and markets team, focusing on tokenization strategy and delivery. Thompson leaves LME on August 31 after nearly ten years working at the metals exchange. He previously held liquidity, funding and risk positions at Deutsche Bank, ICAP and LCH respectively. Ripple recently launched Delta One swaps covering U.S. equities, indices and digital assets for institutions. The appointment itself does not confirm any new commodity tokenization product or XRP-related market launch. Thompson…

Ripple pledged $300,000 on Aug. 29 to support emergency relief following catastrophic floods across Nepal and China’s Tibet region. Summary Ripple pledged $300,000 to World Central Kitchen and Mercy Corps for Nepal-Tibet flood relief operations. World Central Kitchen’s local restaurant partners are distributing meals across Nepal’s Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts. Mercy Corps is coordinating emergency water and sanitation support after operating in Nepal since 2005. Authorities reported 750 deaths and over 3,000 missing across Nepal and Tibet by Sunday morning. The glacier collapse damaged roads, bridges and hydropower facilities while isolating communities from emergency assistance. The San Francisco-based blockchain company…

A federal appeals court ruled on Aug. 28 that Kalshi had not shown Nevada’s regulation of its sports-event contracts was likely preempted by federal commodities law. Summary Ninth Circuit judges held Kalshi unlikely to block Nevada regulation of sports-event contracts through preemption. The ruling did not invalidate CFTC rulemaking or resolve any future Administrative Procedure Act challenge. A conflicting Third Circuit decision increases the possibility that the Supreme Court reviews Kalshi’s cases. Nevada’s election-contract challenge returns to district court while sports-contract enforcement may continue during litigation proceedings. The CFTC proposed ninety-day reviews for certain event contracts, including products involving gaming…